Breckenridge Texan

This weekend, May 26-27, the skies over Breckenridge will be filled with warbirds – vintage military aircraft – in town for the 2018 Breckenridge Airshow.

The airshow will be at the Stephens County Airport, located on County Road 150, off of U.S. Highway 183 just south of Breckenridge.

At the 2017 Breckenridge Airshow, about 2,500 people attended the Saturday practice day and more than 6,000 attended Sunday’s Show Day. (Photo courtesy of the Breckenridge Chamber of Commerce)

Saturday will be a practice day but will have a full slate of activities. The Mid America Flight Museum will be on-site, along with other warbird displays. In the afternoon, formation and performance flights will take place.

“Saturday is a very busy day; ‘Tora! Tora! Tora!’ goes up, they just don’t use the smoke oil,” said Rhonda Crawford, executive director of the Breckenridge Chamber of Commerce and the airshow coordinator. “Saturday will be less crowded, but we have a full day on both days. We don’t want you to feel cheated on Saturday.”

Sunday is Show Day with a similar schedule to Saturday. Performances scheduled include Aeroshell Aerobatic Team, Carl Best, Dagmar Kress, David Martin, “Devil Dog,” Greg Shelton, SRC Airshows and “Tora! Tora! Tora!”

Schedule for Saturday:

• 9 a.m. – Gates open, displays open to the public, Warbird flights for sale
• 11:30 a.m. – Displays closed to the public; airspace closed to general aviation
• Noon – Opening Ceremony
• 1 p.m. – Flying begins
• 5 p.m. – Flying ends; airspace re-opens to general aviation
• 7:30-10 p.m. – Twilight Photo Tour

Schedule for Sunday:

• 9 a.m. – Gates open, displays open to the public, Warbird flights for sale
• 11:30 a.m. – Displays closed to the public; airspace closed to general aviation
• Noon – Opening Ceremony
• 1 p.m. – Flying begins
• 5 p.m. – Flying ends; airspace re-opens to general aviation

The Breckenridge Airshow was resurrected last year after a 21-year break. The original airshow was put on in Stephens County from 1977 to 1996.

Crawford said she grew up on Airport Road and that when she moved back to Breckenridge in 2007 she wanted to bring back the airshow. After she was named executive director of the Chamber in 2015, she began working with Anna Ezell Shortes to reorganize the airshow.

“We are trying very hard to hold true to the original format,” Crawford said. “We really won’t change much from (the previous) format. If you came back in the ’80s, you will be thrilled that is so nostalgic.”

Crawford says that one change from the past airshows is that more shows have been added to the lineup. “We have the B-17 (Flying Fortress) Texas Raiders coming,” she said. “We’re thrilled about that. They have a great history,”

Tickets to the airshow are available online at www.breckenridgeairshow.com or by calling the Chamber at 254-559-2301. On Saturday, children age 11 and younger will be admitted at no charge; adult general admission tickets (for everyone age 12 and older) will cost $17. Special-priced tickets for seniors (age 65 and older), military personnel and veterans with military ID will be available for $10 each.

On Sunday, children’s tickets (for ages 5-11) will cost $5, adult tickets (age 12 and older) will cost $17, and senior/military/veteran tickets will cost $10. Additionally, other tickets are available, such as two-day passes, VIP passes, etc. For more information on those tickets, visit the website listed above or call the Chamber.

The temperatures are predicted to hit 100 degrees on Saturday and Sunday, and the organizers of the airshow recommend that attendees take precautions, including using sunscreen, hats and sunglasses. Additionally, those attending may bring lawn chairs and/or blankets to sit on. Ear protection may be useful for those with sensitive hearing. According to the Chamber, due to liability issues umbrellas and tents are not allowed, nor are pets. Service animals are allowed but they must remain on a leash at all times.

The Stephens County Sheriff’s Office has issued the following list of allowed and not-allowed items.

• Do not bring food, drinks, coolers (unless a documented medical condition for any of those three items can be shown). Also not allowed: portable awnings/tents, alcohol, pets, bicycles, firearms, skateboards, scooters, inline skates, personal golf carts, side-by-sides or ATVs.
• Items that are allowed: lawn chairs, blankets, small bags (for sunscreen, money, etc.). Care items for infants will be allowed.

Story by Carla McKeown/Breckenridge Texan

Cutline, top photo: Last year, 68 warbirds were on display at the Breckenridge Airshow. This year’s event promises a similar lineup, including the B-17 Flying Fortress from the Texas Raiders and the six replica Japanese aircraft for the Tora! Tora! Tora! show. (Photo courtesy of the Breckenridge Chamber of Commerce)